Mary a



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. F. GORDON, Deod.

M. A. GORDON, Executn'x. GRAIN HARVESTING AND BINDING MACHINE.

3 Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

N. ETERE PhmmLilhniraphm, Walhingtnn, 16v

'2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. F. GORDON, Decd.

M. A. GORDON, Executrix. GRAIN HARVESTING AND BINDING MACHINE. No.349,842.

Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

N. PETERS. wwwmha n mr. Wiihmglnn, 6.1:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. GORDON, OF ROCHESTER, NE\V YORK; MARY A. GORDON EXECU- TRIX OFSAID JAMES GORDON, DECEASED.

GRAIN HARVESTING AND BINDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,842, datedSeptember 28, 1886.

Application filed January 11, 188i. Serial No. 117,461. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. GORDON, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have inventedeertain Improvements in GrainHarvesting and Binding Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to those machines in which it is desirableto turn or swing the cut grain horizontally to a binding mechanism atthe rear upon the platform or other support, the improvements beingdesigned more particularly for application to low-level or platformbinders of the general character represented in my Patent No. 320,318,June 16, 1885, wherein the cut grain, after being delivered at the innerend of the harvester platform, is turned at right angles, orsubstantially right angles, so as to lie parallel with the cutter-barfor presentation to the binding mechanism.

The present improvements relate particularly to an improved arrangementof toothed conveyor-chains designed to effect the double purpose ofdelivering the grain from the harvester-platform and of turning orswinging the same horizontally.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top planview of such portions of a harvesting and binding machine as arenecessary to an understanding of my invention, the binding devices, thereel, and other parts foreign to the invention being omitted. Fig. 1 isa vertical section from front to rear on'the line 1; o of Fig. 1,showing the abutment against which the grain is carried by the conveyingmechanism. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section 011 the line w w ofFig. 1, showing the mechanism by which motion is imparted to the chains.Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views on the lines a: 00, y y, and z 2,respectively, showing the folding teeth in different positions. Figs. 6and 7 are perspective views illustrating the chains and teeth, thelatter being shown in their operative and inoperative positions,respectively.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the main frame,made of an oblong substantially rectangular form, and supported at itsinner end by the main driving-wheel B, and at its outer end by the grainor stubble wheel C. The outer end of the frame is pro vided at theforward edge with ordinary cutting mechanism, D, and immediately in rearof said mechanism with a horizontal grainreceiving platform, E, commonlyknown as the "harvester-platform. Thecuttingmechanism and theharvester-platform are made of the usual length; but, instead of beingextended inward to a point near the main wheel, the

frame is elongated to admit of the platform and cutters being setoutward away from the main wheel in such manner as to leave between theharvester-platform and the wheel a sufficient space to admit of the cutgrain being turned horizontally thereon. tween the harvester-platformproper, which terminates on the line (I, and the main wheel is occupiedby a secondary platform or table, F, forming a continuation of theharvesterplatform on a level therewith, and serving to support the grainwhile being turned and moved to the binder.

The foregoing parts are or may be of essentiall y the same constructionas in my original application above referred to, and the entire bindingmechanism proper may also be construeted and arranged in the same manneras in said application.

My improved means for turning and delivering the grain consists in aseries of endless 8o toothed chains, H H H, 850. These chains, theirteeth, and the devices for elevating the teeth are alike inconstruction. Each chain is arranged to revolve in the same horizontalplane, being carried around the outside of supporting-rollers I, whichrevolve upon vertical axes. It will be perceived that under thisarrangement the chains pass around the supporting-rollers without therising and falling movement whichv occurs when they are carried overrollers having their axes arranged horizontally. Each chain is providedat suitable intervals with a series of angular teeth, J, arranged toturn in a vertical plane around a horizontal journal or trunnion, I),formed 5 on the side of the chain-links. Each tooth is made of an Lform, with one end, 0, pointed, in order that it may readily risethrough and act upon the grain, and with the opposite end, d, widenedand flattened to form a foot adapted to ride upon the rail, by which thetooth is caused to assume an upright p0- The space he 65 sition. Theform of the links, and the manner in which they are connected, isimmaterial; but it is preferred to employ links with open centers,having their ends provided with hooks, by which they may be readilyconnected and disconnected in the same or essentially the same manner asin the various drivingchains now commonly known in the art. It ispreferred, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to form the journals by which theteeth are carried at the upper edge of the links, the edge beingextended upward, as shown, in order that the teeth may be sustainedabove the body of the link.

For the purpose of elevating and sustaining the teeth, stationary tracksor rails K are arranged adjacent to the chains along such portion oftheir length as it is required to have the teeth act upon the grain. Aseach tooth is carried forward, its foot encounters the end of thestationary rail, in the manner rep resented. in Fig. 3, whereby thetooth is caused to assume an elevated position and maintained againstthe resistance of the grain, so as to carry the latter positivelyforward beforeit. The movement of the chain causes the tooth in thisposition to move lengthwise over the rail, as represented in Fig. 2,until the opposite end of the rail is reached, whereupon the toothescaping therefrom is permitted to turn downward to the positionrepresented in Fig. 4. The chainsare arranged to travel below thep1atform,which is provided with slots L, to admit of the teeth risingthrough the same to act upon the grain during the required portion oftheir movement. During the time that the teeth are inoperative that isto say, during their retrograde movement-they are carried backwardbeneath the platform, in the mannerrepresented in Figs. 1 and 5, beingthus kept out of contact with the grain and protectedfrom the entranceof straw or other obstructions. The, pulleys by which the chains areguided may be disposed or arranged in such relations to each other as tocause the chains to move the grain in any desired path. In the presentmachine it will be perceived that the outer chain, H, extends lengthwiseof the harvester-platform near the forward edge to its inner end, thencewith two bends or angles backward across the secondary platform to apoint near the rear edge, thence along the rear edge of the harvester tothe corner at the grain side, and finally forward to the point ofcommencement. The track and slots are arranged in such manner that theteeth rise to an operative position at the outer or grain end of theplatform, and continue to act as they pass inward and backward until therear corner of the secondary platform is reached. The second chain, H,is arranged in like manner, being encircled by the first and arrangedparallel therewith. The third chain, H", which terminates at a pointnear the inner end of the harvester-platform, passes sim: ply around twopulleys at its extremities in a right line with the inner end of theplatform,

other words, the forward chains act upon the butts of the grain andcarry the same farther inward toward the main wheel than the teeth ofthe rear chains. Owing to this arrangement and to the fact that theforward chains are extended backward across the secondary platform, thegrain is moved in a continuing stream first squarely over theharvester-platform to its inner end, and, secondly, backward in a curvedpath toward the rear edge of the secondary platform, from which it willbe introduced to the binder by packing mechanism such as shown at M, orby other suit-a blc appliances. The employment of chains which arecontinued from the harvester-platform backward beneath the secondaryplatform is advantageous, first, because of the ex treme simplicity andcheapness of the arrangement, and, second, because the grain is butslightly agitated and not subjected to an objectionable thrashing orhulling action. I t is also found that in the case of lodged or tangledgrain, continuous chains having teeth which engage positively with thegrain and which remain in engagement therewith effect the delivery ofthe grain in a straighter, more regular, and better condition than isotherwise attainable.

In order to assist the chains in delivering the grain in a compactcondition, I cover the packing devices by a shield or covering, X, theforward side of which rises somewhat abruptly from the platform, asshown in Fig. 1, so as to form an abutment against which the grain willlodge. The packers serve to lift the accumulated grain at the propertime from the shoulder to the binder-arm in the rear- Motion may becommunicated to the various chains in any suitable manner; but a simpleand efficient means for the purpose, and one which is recommended, isthat represented in the drawings. One of the pulleys I, carrying eachchain, is formed with or secured upon the same shaft wit-h the secondwheel, N. A single chain, 0, is passed around the series of wheels .N,and thence around a wheel, 1?, applied to the lower end of a verticalshaft, Q. This shaft, mounted in bearings on the main frame,

is provided at the upper end with a bevel-- pinion, R, driveuby abevel-gear, S. The last-named gear'is mounted on a horizontal shaft, T,which is mounted in bearings on the main frame B. Under the abovearrangement motion is communicated from the main wheel to theintermediate parts by the chain 0, and

' thence through the pulleys N to the respective carrier-chains.Suitable provision will of III) course be made for throwing thedrivingchain out of action when it is required to stop theconveyer-chains. If the pulleys N be made of the same size, the severalconveyer-chains will be driven at uniform speeds; but if it be desiredto drive the conveyer-chains at different speeds the result may beaccomplished by making the wheels N of different sizes.

I am aware that it has been proposed to extend a canvas apron lengthwiseof a harvesterplatform and to carry the same at one end upon a rollerarranged in an oblique position. Iam also aware that it has beenproposed to extend a series of cords lengthwise of a harvesterplatform,around rollers having horizontal axes, and thence backward at one end ofthe platform in oblique lines, and to such constructions, neither ofwhich are practically operative, I lay no claim. I believe myself to bethe first, however, to employ endless carrier-chains provided withverticallyfolding teeth and extended lengthwise of theharvester-platform, and thence in a curved path to effect the turning ofthe grain in a positive manner after it is delivered from the platform,and present the same to the action of a binding mechanism, as shown inthe drawings.

7 represents a binder-arm, the needle pivoted to vibrate vertieally,inorder that it may leave the cord or other binding material around thebundle in a plane at right angles to the length of the cutter-bar, orapproximately so.

The packing devices, which constitute part of the binding mechanism, maybe omitted, and the binder-arm replaced by any equivalent arm adapted tolay the cord about the gavel in the direction stated.

The binder-arm will be arranged to act with knotting, clamping, andsevering devices of any proper character, many devices for the purposebeing at present known to every person skilled in the art. Y I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a harvestingmachine, two endless horizontally-traveling conveyer-chains providedwith verticallymovable teeth, one chain arranged to encircle the other,substantially as described.

2. In combination with the series of endless chains, the horizontallyrevolving wheels to sustain the same, the driving-wheels N, and thedriving-chain 0 common to the series of wheels, as described.

3. The combination, in a harvester, of the main or ground wheel, thewheel 1, geared thereto and driven therefrom, a series ofconveyer-chains, drivingwheels for the respective chains, and a singledriving-chain, 0, communicating motion from the wheel P to the severalwheels N, asdescribed and shown.

4. In a harvester, one or more horizontal revolving toothedconveyor-chains extending lengthwise of the harvesterplatform, in rearof the cutters, and thence in a curved or oblique path in thesupplementary platform, in combination with one or more toothed conveyer-chains extending horizontally in a straight line within theharvesteeplatform only, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with a series of con veyerchains, whereby thegrain-stalks are carried first in a straight line in rear of thecutters, and thence in a curved or oblique path in the auxiliaryplatform, a vibratory binder-arm, and a revolving toothed packer locatedbetween the delivery end of the convcyers and the binder-arm.

6. In combination with a series of endless toothed conveyor-chains,substantially as here in described, whereby the grain-stalks as they arecut are carried continuously across the platform in rear of the cutters,and thence in a curved or oblique path toward the binder, a shoulder orabutment rising above the platform, and secondary conveying or packingmechanism acting between the delivery end of the conveyors and thebinding mechanism to deliver the grain over the abutment, substantiallyas described.

JAMES F. GORDON.

\Vituesses:

Z. L. DAVIS, H. G. PnrLLIrs.

